Pennsylvania Joins the Multi-State Internet Agreement

Summary

• Pennsylvania prepares to join the Multi-State Internet Agreement.
• This week, Governor Josh Shapiro authorized the action.
• Borgata Online and BetMGM are the pioneering poker sites to combine their player pools.

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Pennsylvania is the newest state to join the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), a coalition that combines the online poker player populations of several states.

Pennsylvania to boost online poker headcount with 150,000 players

The decision, endorsed by Governor Josh Shapiro, marks a significant development. As a long-time advocate for this move, the Democratic governor believes it will enhance overall liquidity, curb black market influence, bolster the regulated poker industry, and increase tax revenue. Shapiro stated:

The Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) was launched in 2014 by Delaware in an effort to overcome its limitations in size and population by pooling its online poker players with those from other states. The compact was initially developed with Nevada and has been seeking expansion ever since. Despite slow initial progress, the pact gained traction when New Jersey joined in 2017, followed by Michigan in 2022, and West Virginia in 2023. However, these states have not matched Pennsylvania's influence in terms of player numbers. Pennsylvania's active online poker community numbers at least 150,000 players. Their participation will add to the existing player pool and aid in developing the U.S. online poker landscape, which competes against strong offshore platforms known for offering constant cash games and large tournaments.

Pennsylvania’s online poker platforms go live on Monday

As more states adopt online poker, there is hope that the industry will lose its initial burst of momentum. The implementation of Pennsylvania's entry into the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) will be overseen by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB). Pennsylvania's official participation in MSIGA will commence on Monday, April 28, with BetMGM and Borgata Online set to be the first platforms taking advantage of this new opportunity. The state is also aiming to increase revenue from online poker by hosting more tournaments and cash games, which is a viable strategy to achieve this goal.